SAD EVENT: A snooker player was suspended after making a derogatory comment.

SAD EVENT: A snooker player was suspended after making a derogatory comment.

Ronnie O’Sullivan was accused of “disrespect” by a player whose hopes of facing the world number one were dashed on Monday at the Scottish Open in Edinburgh.

The seven-time world champion withdrew from the event, citing medical reasons, just hours before a first-round match against 19-year-old Liam Graham.

Graham slammed O’Sullivan’s decision, telling the Daily Record, “It’s disrespectful, it’s not right.”

“A lot of people took time off work today to come watch, and it’s disappointing.”

“Given what he does, it’s not surprising.” When I arrived at the venue this morning, I found out. I didn’t have much notice – I believe he arrived late.”

O’Sullivan, who won his eighth UK title in York earlier this month, has now withdrawn from five of the season’s eight ranking tournaments, not including the Snooker Shootout.

Last month, he pulled out from the Champion of Champions event in Bolton due to “mentally feeling a bit drained and stressed”.It comes amid a time of tension between the player and World Snooker Tour chiefs over his desire to have the freedom to play in lucrative exhibitions in China.In the wake of his final win over Ding Junhui in York, O’Sullivan insisted officials “seem to want me to hand my resignation in” – a claim flatly denied by WST.

Graham, who is in his first year as a professional, added: “At the end of the day I want to play the best players in the world and I was really looking forward to it.”